The City Dweller’s Dilemma: Fact or Fiction?
Last night Zac and I spent more time than necessary deciding on whether we should go out for dinner or stay in — sometimes couples take forever just to make a simple decision. In this relatively mundane case, there was a lot to consider.
Reasons to go out:
– Change of scenery seemed refreshing after having made dinner at home two nights in a row.
– Potent margaritas and mouth watering burritos are served up just two blocks away at our favorite Mexican restaurant. They feverishly call our names when we don’t feel like cooking.
Reasons to stay in:
– Cutting back on entertainment due to rising prices everywhere.
– Trying to eat healthy, somewhat.
Proximity can be a bitch when you’re trying to save money, though I’m sure those paying outrageous gas prices would disagree.
There’s a complexity — not quite a complaint — about city living that apparently requires a certain level of mastery: being able to stay at home.
Zac and I have made a well-appointed, comfortable home for ourselves. We love our apartment and cooking together; our Netflix queue is 180 titles strong, and we certainly move through it. But to stay inside every night when there’s so much excitement buzzing outside your door — well, it seems like self-inflicted oppression, doesn’t it?
I easily walk past a dozen bars on my way home from school, twice as many restaurants, and I don’t even know how many stores and galleries, but there are a lot. I see crowds of people having fun, and for all I know it may be their one night out for the week, but it’s hard to come home and not think that it’s the norm to be out dining and drinking more frequently.
Although, in taking inventory of the entertainment habits of my friends of acquaintances (roughly all around the age of 30, give or take 5 years), I don’t think I know anyone who spends a quiet night or weekend afternoon at home for the majority of the week.
It seems that we city dwellers are compelled to rot our bank accounts on our social lives instead of rotting our minds at home in front of the television.
I’m eager to find out how many other people think this is true.
[Photo by anniebee.]
Quite honestly, having everything right outside my door is the main reason I live in the middle of my city (walking distance from John & Zac, in fact). My bedroom barely fits my twin bed, with literally an inch to spare, but hey, pretty much anything I could want is within five blocks, so why would I spend time there anyway? It’s quite true that it impacts my budget but with a bit of self-control, one can enjoy their urban neighborhood without breaking the bank.
Sometimes you just wanna be around people! Our scene where I live is tragic, but at least when I go out, I get to see a good number of my friends all in one place. Only thing is, I have that little drinking/spending problem, which is a huge burden the week after when I’m looking through receipts. I’d say your location gives you exactly what you wanted – things to do. Now, enjoy it! (within spending reason) 😛
John: Similar temptations reside in the suburbs, albeit not the quality or quantity of options. For me personally, there was always a greater pull to go out when I was single. Since I work from home, if nobody was coming home at night to be with me I would go stir crazy. I got around this solitary existence by doing things that were free. I went to yoga three nights a week… not the expensive studio yoga but the yoga that was included in my inexpensive gym membership.
When friends called and wanted me to go out to dinner, there was always the compromise of eating first at home and just meeting them for the cocktail hour. That $12 glass of wine always made me feel social but allowed me to stay on budget because I wasn’t sitting down with them to the meal that likely would set me back fifty bucks or more.
I also used to read at the bookstore. It gave me a reason and virtually free way to get out of the house as well. Most sell coffee and for a couple bucks, I felt like I was “doing” something and not missing out on the going out part.
Maybe that makes me sound like a boring lesbian… but hopefully in the long run I’m richer for it.
I think whether you live in the city or in a rural area isn’t really the issue, it’s whether or not you’re going to be tempted to spend money that’s the problem. If you don’t care about your budget, then you can always find places to spend money. It all depends on what matters to you.